VideoSecu Outdoor 700TVL Day Night Security Camera Built-in 1/3" SONY Exview CCD II EFFIO-E DSP 65

I purchased this camera due to the 700tvl and the 65ir leds for my home. I just put the camera up and tested the camera and wow what a piece of junk. The resolution quality is very poor and there are very dark areas due to the bright sun. Well if this is to be used outside then what do I due with the dark areas. So then I waited till night time to test the IR system and another let down. If you are looking to watch your home up close you will never see the perp.

I will definately be sending this crapper back to market.

I like this camera very much. I installed it about 18 feet off the ground. It works perfectly at night without any lighting and in total darkness. The picture is very clear. I would purchase this camera again.

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reason I bought this camera is my father has same one and it is bright at night and very high quality picture. Plus, I like that you can actually see the camera because of its size....my other cameras are small and you can hardly tell i have a security system on the outsides of my house

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Purchased this camera as one of a 4 camera application at my work. This camera is installed 30 ' from the ground and 50' from the loading dock. I picked this camera as it has a manual zoom. Once set-up for zoom you need to manually focus. This is not a problem except for needing a second set of eyes on monitor. I am happy with this purchase. Good value!

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I purchased 4 camera and a recorder and a power supply . The recorder was bad from the first time that i received it and try with the seller to get replaced and all the did was give me a run around. the Sony Camera works great .

Be very careful dealing with this people

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Blackmagic Design H.264 Format Video Recorder (for Mac Only)

Although Hi 8 worked great through an S-Video cable, composite does not work. Color video is black and white. Several decks and cables were used and the directions followed. A support document was sent and three weeks later, still no reply. A phone call to Black Magic resulted in 20 minutes of hold time and then we were told that the product is ineligible for phone support. No mention of this on the website.

Finally received an email from BlackMagic stating that, "we have seen a significant number of cases where issues may arise when trying to capture from a VCR". Since this is one of the primary reason that I purchased this product and since it is shown as one of its key functions. I cannot recommend this product.

They went on to suggest purchasing a Time Based Correction device. We booted our Mac into Windows Vista and tested a similar product (KWorld) that our neighbor had which was PC only and it worked fine without loss of color. They have no intention of taking this product back and we filed with small claims court. A very discouraging experience.

Update: Black Magic has now agreed to help in the return process.

Before purchasing, I contacted the company to make sure it would work with an older Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz) I had set aside and thought would make a dedicated encoding machine. They were not sure whether that machine had USB-2 (It does) and It turns out that the video converter works great with the Powerbook. As the instructions state, these older machines are not capable of displaying the full frame rate, but that does not impact the encoding.

Over the space of about two weeks I have converted our entire (large) collections of VHS tapes over to H.264, which is a huge saving over the time it would have taken to bring them in as DV and encode them to H.264 using iMovie or something similar. I have a Sony Media Converter and had tried that for a few TV shows, and it is a painful route because H.264 is a resource hog. However, this unit converted them in real time and at a quality that is on-par with the original tapes. What I did was:

1. Connect the VCR to the video converter by RCA jacks (it does support component or s-video, if you player does).

2. Connect the video converter to the laptop USB-2 port

3. Install and update the software.

4. Select Full Res and then change the bit rate from 2.0 to 3.5MBPS**. It does not make a huge difference, but I have a lot of hard drive space.

5. Check how long the movie/show plays for, add 1-2 minutes, and type that into the auto stop box on the converter.

6. Start the tape and then press the big red record button.

7. Walk away and leave it to record.

** Options are available to tweak sound, color, brightness and cropping, but in most cases I just used the default settings.

It really is that simple and the quality is great. I have seen a number reviews complaining about how bad the HD quality is when this is not designed for use with HD. You can record from HD sources, but if the unit tops out at 3.5MBPS, it is not going to handle 1080p or 720p for that matter without some losses even though the AppleTV configuration option is available. You have to use the right tool for the job and this is superb for standard definition quality inputs such as VCR or most none high definition television signals. Having said that, if you accept it has limitations you will be happy with the price performance of this little units, even with HD signals, if you are planning to view it on an iPod/iPhone or something similar. Consider that more advanced encoders such as those by canopus can costs hundreds of dollars more, and generally require a two step process to get them in to H.264, and without a H.264 accelerator, that step can take huge amounts of time compared to this realtime unit.

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I purchased this product because it was the only Video Recorder I could find for the Mac that had Component inputs on it. I was excited to be able to record some of my favorite TV show in stunning HD quality. The recorder is well constructed and looks sharp. It came with all of the adapters for recording Component and S-Video and the instruction booklet was very clear and easy to understand.

I was however very disappointed to discover that HD video to Black Magic Design is 480P. I have a 720P DLP and an HD receiver capable of outputting 1080P. I don't care what they say 480P is NOT HD video. I was also disapointed to discover that the video recorder will only capture in a 4:3 aspect ratio not 16:9 like most of the programming now showing on TV.

The software is also a little disappointing. I mentioned previously that I have a 720P DLP TV I also have a Mac Mini as a media center PC; its set with a vertical resolution of 720 pixels to match the TV's output. Unfortunately the application has a set interface size which is larger that 720pixels. As a result the lower portion of the software is cutoff and I cannot actually click the record button. This is just poor design. The interface for the software has no reason to be a specific size. I connected the Video Recorder to my MacBook Pro which has a larger screen resolution and found that recording was easy and the presets are nice.

Overall I'm not satisfied with the product and hope that through future firmware and software updates my issues will be resolved.

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I really like the device and the documentation (instruction manual) is really clear and so easy to use. the device does just what it promises but I haven't yet found a way to clear up one issue in my transfers. When I transfer a video tape recorded at extended play (EP) (6 hrs of recording on a 2 hour tape) the transfer often splits the frame up horizontally. So far video tapes I have that are recorded at normal speed (SP) seem just fine. Maybe I should record my EP tapes onto SP video and then transfer them with the USB capture device. Just an idea. I'll try to report in if it works.

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I was told this was an exceptional product and it might be but be aware, it only works on a Mac. I wish this would have been a little more prominent in the description. It would have saved me the time and effort of sending it back.

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VideoSecu 4 Dummy Imitation Security Cameras with Flashing Light LED Cost-effective Security CCTV S

I was very pleased with this purchase for several reasons. 1. The shipping was speedy! 2. For what you get, the price just cannot be matched elsewhere! 3. The products(dummy cameras) were packaged nicely and looked exactly as advertised!

This is a perfect setup if you are looking to install a dummy monitoring system. The cameras look exactly like a similar real set w/DVR that I saw for about $500.00. The IR style is an added feature as well. They are very easy to install and pretty stable and sturdy once you fix them to the mounting and angles that you want. Additionally, the fact that they dont have blinking lights is a great bonus because if you are going to use a set of four, who wants to keep climbling ladders and changing batteries! Finally, I liked the wires that came with the cameras. They are sticking out the back so all you have to do is place the other end underneath the mounting kit for added realism! Basically, These cameras are actually are shells of the "real" product only they have been disabled from operational use. You will also note that they throw in a bunch of warning stickers as well which cost about $10.00 if purchased on their own!!!

These cameras really look like the real thing. Comes complete with 4 stickers and a sign in English and Spanish. Has no blinking light, but the newer cameras don't have those anyway, and these look new. Perps are not usually very good at telling these from the real thing, and the theory is that they will see them and go on to the next house (A pro could tell, and could get in no matter what you do). The cameras install easily with 3 provided, plated screws and plastic plaster sleeves if used indoors in sheet rock. Camera can be set at any angle. They look and feel real. I'm sure that there are other, more expensive ones that may be better, but these should do their intended purpose: Potential thief sees sign, looks up, sees a camera, leaves.

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I think these are a pretty effective deterrent. They are easy to install and adjust. Though I kinda wish they didn't say "video camera" on the side.

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Didn't come with the stickers very cheap, but I put them up without the LED/battery. Didn't want to have these things flashing all the time and didn't want to have to take them down to change the battery. All in all not bad for a fake camera, but I think you could get a better price then I did for the four. These cameras do look fairly real even close up one thing I didn't like was the appature positioning and the cheap screw that broke off when I tried to move the camera "lens" to a certain position. I'm hope-ing a would-be-theif will move on to the next house due to the deterrent these cameras may provide.

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I purchased this from an Amazon warehouse seller named Qiang Zhao for $29.99. I had seen other fake cameras for ~$10/each so I thought 4 fake cameras for $30 was a good deal.

I received the items quickly enough and they were packaged well in individual boxes; no damage.

Issues:

1. the item description says "VideoSecu 4 Dummy Imitation Security Camera with Flashing Light LED Cost-effective Security CCTV Simulated Dome Camera DMY03D4 WE5". These fake cameras sold by Qiang Zhao are NOT by VideoSecu (a legitimate video security/surveillance company). in fact, if you look up the model # DMY03D4 on , no results are found

2. the cameras i received had two plastic screws holes on the sides that makes them look OBVIOUSLY fake. from the street, a anyone (including a thief) might think these are real, but come any closer it is obvious that they are fake.

luckily the order was fulfilled by amazon so I was able to return it without issue. BUYER BEWARE!!!

NOTE: real cameras do NOT have blinking red lights, so if you do buy these, please do not put the batteries in. you may as well put a neon sign on your house saying "I am too cheap for real security." to a thief this means that the ADT security/alarm monitoring sign you have in front of your house is probably fake too.

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Audio Technica AT-LP60USB Fully Automatic Belt Driven Turntable with USB Port

• USB output: no special drivers required for direct connection to your computer
• Built-in switchable stereo phono/line level pre-amplifier. Permits use of turntable with stereo systems having either magnetic-phono inputs
• PC & Mac compatible
• Fully automatic operation keeps LPs scratch free
• Two speeds: 33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm
• 2 speed turntable - 33 1/3 and 45 RPM

This has recently gone up in price, even apart from the Gold Box Special that greeted me. In a way, I wish I'd seen the higher price, which would have discouraged me from ordering so quickly. I remember when, in the '70s, it cost more to replace a Shure V-15 Type II cartridge than to purchase this turntable, which comes complete with cartridge, stylus, and 4 different connecting cables to cover just about all situations, even those for customers without a receiver/amplifier. It wasn't long before, in the '80s, the elliptical stylus itself went for over a hundred, eventually taken off the market by Shure due to the scarcity of its rare and costly constituent.

The point: for 60 to 90 bucks, you should not expect anything close to a genuine audiophile turntable--even though the machine includes auto tone arm lift, two instruction manuals, four well-made cables, cartridge and stylus. But the feature missing with this turntable, the one reason I wish I hadn't ordered it and had waited to purchase the next model up, is a counterweight for achieving precise tone arm balance as well as an anti-skating control for reducing pressure (and distortion) on the inside grooves of the vinyl LP, especially the tracks closest to the middle hole.

Nevertheless, given the absence of a counter-weighted tone arm and anti-skating control, this turntable does a highly competent job of tracking most recordings. In fact, it performs better than both of the ailing industry-standard, professional Stanton turntables that were proving increasingly problematic at the station. Also, the tracking pressure that I measured is less than 2 and a half grams, light enough to prevent the stylus from eating up your vinyl (at least not until after 2-3 playings).

The unit comes with built-in preamp, so not only does it not require an amp with a phono jack, but it doesn't require any amp beyond the one in your computer if your primary consideration is converting vinyl to digital. A couple of things to be aware of: the lift on the tone arm is too small to be of use for manual placement. You'll need to be comfortable with the automatic lift mechanism or forget about picking up and dropping down the tone arm with any semblance of accuracy. Also, in back is an all-important lever that switches the unit from "phono" to "line" connection. If you're using the unit without an amp with phono jack (beginning in the '90s, cost-conscious manufacturers began leaving them off of receivers and amps, though with the comeback of vinyl we've seen the reappearance of phono jacks), be sure to set the switch to "line." The same holds true if your connection involves use of any of the optional cables and connectors that are included with the turntable.

The turntable tracks quite nicely from what I've seen, and is worth the low cost. Still, before investing in a USB unit--without or without phono connectors--you may simply wish to save up for the best "conventional" turntable along with an amplifier or receiver that has a phono jack. That way you'll have a better chance of scoring some of the audiophile niceties mentioned above, and connection to your computer will be no problem--whether you have an 1/8" familiar audio jack or an adapter that will transform RCA into USB cables.

The software included with the turntable is Audacity--a respected freeware program that's capable of doing an excellent job but is not known for being the most user-friendly program. Other possibilities are Cool Edit (for PC users); Spin Doctor or Sound Studio (Mac users). Once you've converted a couple of LPs, it's a piece of cake--except for the potential of allowing the process to consume all of your time and life. (Try to resist the temptation to make up your own CDs, complete with jewel cases, printed front and back covers and spines, disc centers, booklets, photos, inserts, etc. Another not inconsiderable expense--in time as well as money.)

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Have been waiting and watching and after my first use, download to the computer, and mp3 file creation, I'm happy enough to recommend this product.

For under a hundred bucks the quality seems great. The manual for setup of the system and software is well done with step by step pictures.

I have mine connected to both the computer and external speakers. I'm able to listen to the music while recording thru the external speakers and listen to playback of the downloaded music thru head phones on the computer.

the software has lots of options to play with. but the basic " push the red button to record " and file save as and file export, get the job done to make your albums digital.

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Purely as a turntable, this is a satisfactory unit comparable to any other at the $50 to $80 range. The features that should have set it apart (and for which I purchased the item) are all woefully disappointing.

1) USB-Direct Recording: The true purpose of my purchase was to update my current phonograph configuration to a more convenient way to convert my LPs to MP3. When using the USB connection, there is a dull but constant power-cycle hum from the moment USB Codec is selected as the Recording Device. After attempting to avail myself of this feature with multiple computers in my home I have concluded that the USB connection should be considered unusable by even the least discriminating among music lovers (Perhaps power filters could be used to isolate potential ground-loops but even then, you would still have to contend with issue number 3 below).

[Updated: 03/28/2013]

Although I can't begin to account for what may have possessed me to try this, I've given the USB recording another attempt after upgrading my Notebook Computer to Windows 8. While several other hardware systems on my Notebook (bluetooth, fingerprint reader, blu-ray) have ceased to function due to a lack of driver support, the USB feature on this turntable now functions perfectly. No hum, just right.

I still can't give the turntable 5-stars because of items 2 and 3 below, but at least I can now take full advantage of primary reason I made the purchase.

2) The software: Always in search of audio recording software that would work well on a PC, I was eager to test the claims of Audacity as proclaimed in the included accessory description for this turntable. As it turns out, Audacity is open source freeware. Anyone can get a more recent version of the software for free online.

3) Pre-amp: The ability to play this unit directly through a sound system with the boosted "Phono" inputs of older receivers was a major draw. Having held on to an older receiver for the single purpose of bridging between my turntable and my newer AV receiver, I was looking forward to eliminating one large and superfluous component in my rack. Given the tragic failure of the USB connection, I had also expected this to be the viable alternative to converting to MP3 on my laptop. Sadly, this too was a failure. The pre-amp in this unit is unable to cope with the low input at the end of any track that fades out. The result is a very abrupt cut-off followed by a series of unpleasant audio events as the pre-amp cuts in and out. These events seem to indicate that the db level at the end of the song combined with the surface noise usually experienced between tracks rests squarely at the bottom of the volume range necessary for the pre-amp to engage. As it turns out, this is also the case with USB recording but one might not notice as the aggravating hum covers most of the audio at this volume level.

At this point, my only remaining choice is to use the non-amplified output and run it through the mic input of my Creative Labs SB1090 USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Audio System external sound card (a delightful purchase from Amazon which will be reviewed separately). Of course, I could have done this with my existing turntable as could anyone else who purchased a comparable unit at a comparable price.

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Starting with assembly, I must say it was very simple! The included instructions are clear and concise (including the connect-to-computer instructions).

Now onto the player itself.

The player's output to stereo (and phono) are wonderful! The quality is amazing! My only issue is that the length of the stereo cord is irritatingly short--about one foot long!

Ripping record to your PC or Mac is simple! Just install the software, press 'record', and start playing your record! The rips are wonderful quality, too (IF you convert to a lossless format. MP3 is obviously going to be of a lesser quality)!

Overall, I must say that I love this. Besides the short stereo cord, this is a great, easy to use, and compact record player.

Also included with the record player:

* A USB cable

* A stereo (female) to headphone-jack (female)

* A stereo (female) to headphone-jack (male)

* Installation disc for Audacity (the recording software)

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I was a little concerned about buying it because one user complained of a humming noise from not being grounded properly, but it worked great. I've recorded a dozen albums and am very happy with the purchase. Lots of options on the software that I am still figuring out, but overall, I am very happy with this.

2.0 inch LTPS 720P HD Car DVR Black Box with Separate Rearview Camera/Sticker Mount/Night Vision/SO

• HD 720p high-definition video.
• Dual separate camera.
• SOS urgent file protection.
• Motion detection. Built-in G-Sensor (car accident case of emergency save, will not be deleted).
• Recorder will automatically start video when connect the power.

This is the second i1000-style camera I have bought.

The Good: This camera from Amazon Prime arrived in 1 DAY! Wow! It was new, with plastic covers over the lens and screen. It came with both camera lenses, fwd and aft. Battery life is about 20 minutes after charging, so plan on using the cigarette charger. It properly overwrites old files when the SD card gets full, it powers up and down with car ignition. It will stay on about two minutes after the engine is off, or you can keep it running with the key in "accessory" position. (assuming your cig lighter is powered like mine) The video display shuts itself off after about 3 minutes so you don't have the light shining in your eyes. The blue "power" and blue flashing "recording" LEDs are too bright for nighttimeyou must employ a piece of black tape. The suction mount is very small and stable, the "permanent" sticky back mount is even smaller. The whole camera mounts on the windshielf behind my mirror, completely hidden from my sight by the mirror. Cables are about 6 ft long so you can snake them out of view behind trim panels in your car. The video resolution is not clear enough to read license plates until you are stopped-at-a-traffic-light distance away. I plan to read the license plate number out loud if the need ever arises, and let the sound recording remember it for me.

The (not so) Bad: **Update** I FINALLY discovered that this camera DOES record sound. It uses an unusual encription for the sound track. Neither Quicktime or Windows Media Player would play the sound track. You must find an enhanced codec package and install it on your PC. I used K-Lite from Cnet now I can hear the sound tracks. The sound is good, but not excellent. I can hear engine revs and conversations inside the car. This particular model watermarks the date/time onto the recordings with green letters in a black box in the upper LH corner. I have read that other similar looking cameras show the date/time watermarks with white outlined letters. I don't know how to tell which version you are ordering the green date/time or the white outline date/time. I suspect the white date/time version of this camera is the "original design" camera. For the record this camera's firmware is Ver: 007 F20_212111.

Summary: Overall I'm very happy with the camera. Good price so I won't cry if it gets stolen from my convertible. It runs reliably without any fiddling. Turns itself on and off and keeps a nice record of shenanigans on the highway.

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It arrived two days ago. It's a nice toy. But, the quality is not very good. The microphone does not work out of the box (I used the right setting. It is broken.). I saw a review on the internet before I bought it. They showed a different rear camera and a remote in the box. This one came without the remote. The manual is horrible. They should hire somebody who is a native English speaker.

The box does not say anything about the producer or the origin.

Edit: I tested it today under perfect weather conditions. Picture quality is poor.

I return it.

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Just got the recorder cam, worked good for first day. Then, who would've thought, that this little device like all electronics, does not react well exposing to the summer heat. I live in Chicago where hitting 90 degree is common. This device when overheated, will not record at all until it has been cooled off. I cant really sent my unit back because i wired the charging unit through dashboard to fuse box (should've waited). Oh well, seems like a nice device but dont buy unless you live in canada or russia i guess.

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For the price it works pretty awesome! (So far no issues since I bought it in Jan 2013. I'll post a sample video in the future. I'll update my post if my unit stop working in any way. Paul.

Digitalway MPIO FL100 128 MB MP3 Player

• 128 MB built-in memory
• 3-line, backlit, full-graphic LED display shows track information in several languages including English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese
• Features built-in FM tuner and microphone for voice recording
• Includes manual, set-up CD-ROM, USB cable, earphones, AA battery, carrying Case, and hand strap
• Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP, and MacOS X

This player met all of my qualifications:

#1. It's very small. Inside the included belt clip it looks exactly like a pager. You could easily keep it in your pocket or wear it around your neck with the include strap. For me the IPOD wasn't even an option because I wanted my MP3 player to be pocket-sized.

#2 There's no hard drive. The FL100 uses flash memory so there's no chance of skipping during exercise, etc. I don't care what the Mac folks sayif it has a hard drive it CAN skip.

#3 The FL100 has lots of memory. In researching this product, it seems that 512MB is about as big as you can get in flash memory. Sure, the IPOD has more, but I normally don't have more than about 5 or 6 CDs in regular rotation. However, if you need more you can always expand memory using the SD/MMC memory card slot. I haven't shopped around very much for memory cards, but I know that the capacity goes up to at least 512 MB, meaning you could at the very least double your memory to over a Gig.

I use the included Real One software to rip CDS at a variable bit rate (128 average). With better headphones I might notice degradation in quality, but so far I have no complaints. Even classical sounds great! Real One seems to be drawing from a better internet database than others (like MediaPlayer). I have yet to find a CD on which it can't find title/track info. Files are extracted into folders: Artist > Album > Track # and Title. You then use the MPIO manager software to download these folders directly to the device.

The architecture of the FL100 is superb. Browse through titles while listening, display titles or MP3 tag IDs, set repeats, delete tracks directly from the device, display 1 of 2 different peak meters while track plays, and so on. The graphic EQ presets are not very good unfortunately. But you can manually set the EQ to your liking. The voice recorder is fun, but even better is the ability to record FM radio. I'm a talk radio fanatic so this is something I use frequently. You can choose high or low quality recording. With only about 40MB free, I recorded about 3 hours of talk on low quality.

I do wish this device had the ability to function like a thumb drive in explorer. Unfortunately all data must be uploaded/downloaded through MPIO manager. Perhaps this could be changed in a future firmware updateI don't know.

Lastly, I would recommend picking up some AAA rechargeable batteries. I use my player all day and burn through about 1 battery a day.

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I finally found an MP3 player that could replace my Sony S2 AM/FM radio. The MP3 comes in real handy whenever I'm in the part of the gym that has bad reception and the FM radio is great when i don't want a repeat of my MP3 tracks. After hearing each song 2-3 times with your routine workout, it kind of loses its luster.

Two features I haven't really used are the external memory slot and the voice recorder. Haven't had a chance to buy an external memory card.

The two problem that people complained about to which I concur are 1) the battery has a low life expectency and 2) the sound quality is so-so. First off, i read some comments about the volume not being loud enough or that the sound quality was below average. The reason, in my opinion, is the lack of bass. I've even switched to a pair of high quality Sony headphones that's suppose to increase the bass. In addition, I even adjusted the preset graphic equalizers. Didn't seem to make much of a difference. This leads to our second problem. Because I constantly need to turn up the volume, almost to the max, it drains the battery at a much quicker rate. For gym use, with the volume in the low 30 (range being 0-40), I get a battery life of about 4 hours. But while in the office, with the volume at 7 or 8, I can obtain a battery life of up to 9 or 10 hours. But with that kind of volume in the gym, you might as well listen to the barely audible sound coming out of the gym's overhead speakers.

Overall, this unit is great if you need an MP3 player and a FM radio with an external memory slot. I'm hoping to have a different memory card for each genre of music in the future. If you aren't extremely picky about sound quality, then I would highly recomment this unit. By the way, it looks great too and clips right on to my existing arm band that came with my Sony S2. One other recommendation I would also make is to go out and get some rechargable batteries if you do buy this unit.

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I just bought the mpio FL 100 256mb to replace my Rio S10. I was quite happy with the S10 although it only had 64mb memory, no radio and a few idiosyncracies such as not being able to delete songs directly from the player (instead of having to use music manager software).

I am very pleased with my purchase. The fl100 is just plain sexy with its mirrored face plate. the controls are small but seem to work well. the multi-function buttons enable the player to have a lot of control with a minimum of size. The battery life is probably in the 8-10 hour range for me. My Rio got nearly 25 hours with a single AA battery, the fl100 uses a AAA battery thus not as much juice available, but still respectable I think.

the fl100 is so light and compact in size you can carry it virtually anywhere. the included leather case with belt clip is quite nice but has one MAJOR flaw. there is a clear plastic side panel which completely covers the volume control and the menu button. the result is that the volume can change on you when the player is in the case...either full volume or no volume. this can be circumvented by carefully stretching the case a little bit after you've put the player in it and then using the lock switch once you've set your volume. It's too bad that digitalway didn't design the case better because that is really the only major flaw with the unit.

But wait, there's more...

The manual is so poorly written it is laughable. I can't even understand what it is saying much of the time. I normally don't even read manuals but this player is a bit complex to figure out without some assistance from a manual. Even now, I'm not sure what a couple features are supposed to do because I can't discern a difference whether they are enabled or not. for instance there is a system setting for "fade in/fade out". I would assume that if enabled this is supposed to gradually fade in and out of the song that is currently playing...but I do not notice a difference is this is enabled or not. Also the function of the 'study mode" is to actually enable you speed up or slow down the material that you are listening to, sort of like a tempo control. It's particularly useful for listening to the spoken word.

I like this player a lot. I wanted a player that had decent battery life, FM radio, good amount of built-in storage but also expandable memory. The fl100 has all this and more. I had considered the iriver players because of their small size and apparent durability, but the non-expandability of them turned me off. It does take a bit of time and effort to learn how to use all the features of the fl100. I had a really hard time figuring out how to create folders of music and navigate between them.

Another thing is that Mac users can use iTunes for music management but creating folders on the mp3 player is not intuitive.

I would rate the durability of this unit as very good in the case and average out of the case. It is very light, but if dropped could get dented pretty easily. The Rio S10 on the other hand has a padded protective clam shell case which is excellent for durability and the player itself is plastic which would help protect it in falls I think. Motto is, don't drop it.

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At about half the size of a small deck of cards the MPIO FL100 is pretty small. Light too, even with the AAA battery it weighs almost nothing. The inteface is intuitive. The MPIO Manager software makes transferring files simple. Windows Media files are also supported.

The FM reciever is outstanding. In my office building this little device gets better reception than my Sony portable stereo. The FM tuner has a seek feature also.

The electronics inside the device are manufactured by Samsung, but what makes this thing so nice is that attention to detail and the software and firmware support provided by MPIO. Unlike many small electronics that tout the ability to firmware upgrade, MPIO actually follows through. Currently you can update both the Media Player software and device firmare for tweaks and new features.

The only weak points to this MP3 player are the earphones and the LCD dimming too fast. The headphones are OK, but seem a little cheap. Whenever you press a control the LCD backlight comes on and goes off too fast. There is a backlight setting in the firmware settings, but is only turns the backlight feature on or off.

Well, I'm pretty happy with it. The leather case has been feels pretty tough (and the volume control now has a spot for it, so there's no longer that issue that some people had a while ago). The software works okay. Their MPIO allows you to upload songs, create folders, delete songs, etc. You can also name radio stations for frequencies that you have already saved on your player. Finally, there's a feature to change the start-up and shut-down animations (haven't tried it yet though).

However, I'm somewhat disappointed that I can't store the same file in multiple folders. For example, I would possibly want to put a file in the folders "My favorites" and "Easy Listening". It would also be nice if it had smart folders like in Windows Media Player 9. But, I think the only portable players with such features are the heavy and bulky hard-drive based MP3 players.

Also, you can't rearrange songs from your player. You can do this with your computer, but I would like to be able to organize my songs from the player alone.

I previously considered buying a minidisc. So, I think for the same amount of money, minidisc can still offer more features (in terms of playback options and folder management). However, the fact that mp3 players use optical media is still the deciding issue for me (mp3 players are definitely smaller/lighter and are guaranteed to be skip-free).

Thus, I would recommend this product for someone looking for a small and light music player. It doesn't have all the advanced organizational features, but considering its size, oh well.

TiVo R240060 60-Hour Digital Video Recorder

• TiVo service fee is not included
• Up to 60 hours of digital audio/video recording capacity
• 2 USB ports offer ready connectivity with home networks
• Works with antenna, cable, digital cable, satellite, and combinations
• Everything required for installation is supplied

This product is great, i love TiVo, but I'm not going to concentrate on reviewing TiVo itself, rather this TiVo brand DRV. People need to understand that TiVo is really just a service and software, too often these reviews are filled with info on the service, which is fine, but doesn't help the reviewer make a decision on which DVR unit to buy.

Ok the first thing i want to do is dispel some of the complaints of other reviewers. For the reviewer who stated "However, I was disappointed in the picture quality. I record at Basic Quality so as to get the most hours of recording time", i would say that if you look at the different quality settings you will see that "Basic" is the lowest, so of course you are going to have the lowest quality. It doesn't really matter what the levels of quality are called, if you pick the lowest one, you're going to get the worst quality, try using a higher quality setting.

Next, for the reviewer who stated "This is a very cool product, but it's extremely loud. The fan and hard drive combine to create a high-pitched whistling noise that we found impossible to live with", I'm not sure what he/she is even talking about, it must have been a defective unit. Mine is silent, i really can't hear a thing. Now the manual clearly states that you shouldn't set the TiVo directly on top of another component, or put another component on it, as this maybe block ventilation. So if this person has created a "component sandwich" with their TiVo in the middle, maybe the fans are coming on frequently, I don't know, mine makes no noise.

One review states "Be sure to understand that not only do you need to buy the TiVo (the player) itself, but you also need to buy the sevice!", this is 100% false. You don't have to purchase any service at all. The service gives you access to the "Season Pass" feature where you can tell TiVo to record every showing of a certain show. But you can always set the TiVo up to do this manually, you do not have to purchase any service at all.

Another reviewer has this to say, "Another thing: no power switch. Again, for casual TV users, this is a waste of equipment lifespan & electricity." This is really quite nitpicky, if you turn the TiVo off, it cant make its dial-in call to get your updated schedule of shows, and it cant search for shows you might like based on your preferences. Besides that it doesn't use much power at all, and the only thing that would be getting any wear and tear are the hard drives and they sleep when they aren't in use. He also states "it's just a very expensive toy", um hello.... Of course it is, that's the fun of it.

Finally there is this complaint, "You need a credit card to activate the service. This is a real problem for those who do not have, or choose not to use, credit cards". Ok lets see, first of all you don't need to sign up for the service, and if you don't have a credit card I'm guessing you run into this problem all the time, it isn't just with TiVo...

This TiVo unit works as advertised, I cant really say anything else about it. One thing to realize is that, while this is an 80 hour unit, that really is only about 25 hours of recordings at the highest quality level. I know some of you are saying "25 hours is plenty", and you're right, but if you were looking at a unit with less recording time, remember that you only get about 30% of the total time at the best level. The only other problem I have with this is that recording a show while watching something else on live TV is impossible if you have a cable box for your TV. I have digital cable, and therefore I need a cable box, well you cant split a digital signal very easily and its then impossible to record on one channel and watch another. But it isn't that big a deal as one can still watch a recorded show and record another.

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NOTICE: Most of this review relates to TiVo in general, not this specific hardware device, although they all pretty much work the same. I have a Sony SAT-T60 DIRECTV/TiVo combination receiver and a Hughes GXCEBOT DIRECTV/TiVo combination receiver. I've provided a few comments on these combo units because I highly recommend them if you are looking at buying a TiVo.

My wife and I became addicted to TiVo within 1 month after installing it. In fact, we bought a second TiVo for the bedroom about six months after purchasing our first one. We have gone from watching 90% live TV/10% recorded (VCR) to 90% Tivo/10% live TV! We hardly watch anything anymore at its regular time. We simply pull up the "Now Playing" menu, which lists all the shows I have previously recorded, and watch whatever we're in the mood for drama (Law and Order or Boomtown), comedy (Friends, South Park), reality TV (Survivor, Fear Factor), or sports (Illinois basketball, cliff diving).

There are so many cool things about TiVo, but these are my FOUR FAVORITE things:

1) Season Pass, which once you set it up, will record a particular show EVERY time it's on or even all shows with a particular actor or subject,

2) Easy to record (simply choose the show, not the time and channel) and easy to find and play (scroll through "Now Playing" list of previously recorded shows and choose "Select" to play),

3) Record two shows at once (like Survivor and Friends, which both start at 8:00 on Thursday) with a DirecTV/TiVo combination receiver, which we have. The TiVo Series2 product you are shopping for will only record one show at a time, but you CAN watch a previously recorded show while taping a show that is currently being broadcast.

4) Replay button skips back 7 seconds, which comes in handy whenever you miss something that was said, or you want to go back and pause something so another person can see it. We probably use this button more than any other on the entire remote.

HOW HAS IT CHANGED OUR LIFE?

Let me just give you 3 examples:

FIRST, we watch TV on our time. We never worry about what time, or even what day something is on. We have TiVo recording about 20 different shows for us each week and we watch them at various times, depending on our schedule. It doesn't matter when I get home from work, whether I'm out of town, or what time the kids go to bed. Our shows are on when WE want to see them.

SECOND, we have a Season Pass for three kids shows (Sesame Street, Clifford, Teletubbies). Every day, it tapes the new one and deletes the one from yesterday. So, there is always a fresh show to put on for our kids when we need to get them out of our hair. No bulky video tapes, and none of the stories get old. They're seeing and learning something new every day.

FINALLY, we pause and replay shows all the time. Want to stop and get a drink? No problem-pause. Phone call? No problem-pause. What did she just whisper? Replay it. Who was that behind Julia Roberts at the Oscars? Replay it, then pause or slo-mo. Use TiVo for a month and you won't believe that you ever watched television without it.

We started with the monthly subscription and moved to the lifetime after just a month (it's good for the life of the box, not you). I bought a 4-year warranty as a safety precaution (new technology and insurance against the lifetime subscription). DirecTV customer service is decent, but not great (they handle the TiVo side as well). The BEST resource for TiVo is the TiVo AVS forum, which you can link to from the Buzz section of the TiVo Web site. It's a "must read" prior to buying this unit (if my review hasn't answered all your questions). But I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the coolest, most liberating invention to come out since the World Wide Web. No joke! You will fall in love with your TiVo too.

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A note regarding DIRECTV/TiVo units: First, it looks like the Justice Department is going to block the Echostar-DIRECTV merger. So, any fears that subscribers might have had about losing TiVo service to Echostar's technology are likely overblown now. I've also discovered that DIRECTV/TiVo combination units rarely hold the number of hours suggested. My Sony advertises "up to 35-hour recording capacity." In reality, the data density of the DIRECTV signal is variable and you will rarely have even 30 hours of capacity. I have been maxing out at around 23 hours before things get deleted involuntarily. You can control the recording quality on stand-alone units and therefore, you can tell exactly how much capacity you're using. Recording quality is not an option with the combo units, but you should assume that you will NOT be able to retain more than 22 to 25 hours of programming before shows must be deleted in order to make room for new recordings. This doesn't change my enthusiastic view on TiVo or the combo units one bit.

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TiVo is one of those items that once you have it, you'll never know how you did without it. Never worry about having a tape cued to tape your favorite shows. You can even watch a previously recorded show while another one is recording. Or, you can start watching a recorded show before it finishes. Wishlists will scan the program listings for titles, actors, directors, or subjects you're interested in. Season passes let you record all episodes of a show, regardless of when it's on.

You can pause and rewind live TV as well. While you're paused, TiVo is recording the show. You can either resume watching where you stopped, or fast-forward to the current broadcast. This is helpful in skipping commercials as well -just start watching 10-15 minutes after the show starts broadcasting, and then fast-forward through the commercials.

Be aware that the TiVo service is a required item -it won't function at all without it. A telephone line is required for the initial setup, but after that you can use an internet connection instead. The latest release (4.0) of the TiVo software supports wired and wireless ethernet adapters (seperate purchase; check TiVo's web site for compatible devices). New systems will automatically be upgraded to the latest software when they dial in.

Also new in 4.0 is the Home Media Option. This service ($.... one time fee for the first TiVo, $... for each addtional) allows you to share shows between TiVos if you have more than one. It also allows you to transfer pictures and MP3s to your TiVo from your PC. However, you can't view recorded shows on your PC.

HMO also allows you to schedule recordings via TiVo's web site, in case you're at work or out of town and realize there's a show you want to record.

TiVo will work with virtually all broadcast, cable, or satellite systems. For systems that require a cable box, TiVo has an IR blaster that emulates the box's remote control. That way, TiVo can set the channel for its recordings. If you have DirectTV service, you should consider the Hughes reciever with a built-in TiVo.

There is a wealth of information about TiVo on the internet, both for general use, and for the technical minded, how to upgrade the device.

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Unless you already know, it is difficult to clearly explain just how terrific this item is. If you know someone with a DVR (digital video recorder), they probably have already encouraged you to purchase one. When I discuss TiVo with others, they often say, "I do not watch that much TV". A DVR allows you to watch TV on your schedule instead of the broadcaster's schedule and besides most people grossly underestimate their TV watching time. Just for a moment, set aside the many nifty features a DVR has and imagine sitting down and watching your shows when you want to. This is hard for most non-DVR owners to understand and fully appreciate. A DVR gives you tremendous freedom.

TiVo allows you to record any shows based on a wish list. This wish list can be an actor, director, subject or keyword. For example, my wife found a fondue set at a yard sale. I created a wish list for TiVo to automatically record shows that have "Fondue" in the description that are classified as "Cooking" shows. This task took about 2 minutes. This same method could be used to record sporting events with your favorite team. Telling the unit to perform tasks like this is done on the screen in large easy to read text with very easy to read instructions.

Before purchasing, I did some research looking into several DVRs. I read the Amazon reviews for both ReplayTV and TiVo. I went to the web sites for each manufacturer and read discussion group postings. Both units are very similar and offer mostly the same features. Some things to consider when looking:

DVRs allow you to record shows on several quality levels (TiVo settings are basic, good, high, best). My 40hr unit is 40hrs on the 'basic' quality setting. If I recorded everything on the 'best' setting, my capacity would actually be about 13hrs. I have compared all of the quality levels and yes there is some difference. I only find the 'basic' setting is noticeably degraded so I use the 'good' setting at a minimum. I record certain shows on higher settings and others on lower settings. For example, I record cooking and stand-up comedy shows on a lower setting because the image quality means less to me; I record others such as nature shows on a higher setting as I want the image to be clean and sharp. I have had my unit for about six weeks and the one thing I did not consider was the temptation to park shows or movies on the unit with the intention to watch them on some rainy day. Storing shows on the unit takes up space. For this reason, I now wish I had gotten a larger unit.

I had a few problems setting up my TiVo. The TiVo must take control over your cable box (if you have one) to be able to change the channel. This is done with either a serial cable or infrared blasters. Not all cable boxes have serial cable inputs. Mine did but the TiVo said it could not 'talk' with the cable box using the serial port during setup. I called my cable company and they said their cable boxes are not compatible with the TiVo unit. I went online and read discussion group postings and the fanaticism associated with TiVo was quite evident. I found out many cable companies deliberately make it inconvenient to connect a DVR as they plan to come out with their own competing models in the next several years. Just be aware if you have any problems setting up the unit, call TiVo support for help instead of your cable company.

Again, unless you already have a DVR, it is difficult to entirely illustrate just how terrific they are. They give you tremendous freedom and control over your TV.

According to a 15-year audio install company, I was the 1st person to buy and install a Tivo in MN. I love the product. You will find you use it a lot more than you anticipate. That said beware of the liftime 1 time service fee verbage. Note it says{PRODUCT} lifetime. That means if you pay $249 ( like I did a few years back) and upgrade to a new box, ( I use it so much I upgraded to a 80 hour box) Your old lifetime subscription goes into the garbage with you old box. Yep they want you to buy a new one with each new box you buy. That is pure BULL$H!+ in my view everyone should email them and tell them so. Also note that you can record it low res. down and dirty ( to save recording space) or, med high or super high quality. The hour recording they show is for the tacky down and dirty mode which you will use less and less the longer you use the unit. If you have a plasma TV or any kind of quality system, you'll want to record for top quality. Thus, don't make the mistake I did and buy a lower capacity hour unit thinking you'll never record more than what they advertise it at. . I found you need to take that hour time they advertise on the box and divide it by 4 to get the real capacity of your machine. Thus the 80 hour machine will allow you to record 20 hours in high quality playback before it asks you to start deleting previous recording requests. Note that as your space fills up the unit will start asking you to delete scheduled recordings to make room for any new additions you want to ad. I think you'll agree that this defeats the purpose of having a TIVO in the 1st place. Thus, buy the max machine (currently the 80 hour unit) if you buy one at all. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. IN conclusion, this unit is the coolest and most innovative invention in years. If you buy one you'll use if more than any electronics device you probably own. It's worth every dime and I never had 1 problem with my original machine in over 3 years. One last note. All others always compare themselves to Tivo and not vice versa. Think about it.. don't invest in a want-a-bee. This machine is dependable, has tons of cool features and is easier to use than heating up your morning coffee in the microwave.

Q-See QS Series 8 Channel Security Network DVR

I purchased this unit to replace my 11 year old, PC based Geovision 650. This self contained DVR performs as well or better than my old Geovision system did at a fraction of what I orignally paid for the Geovision card and the to PC run it.

I have been using this unit now for about 2 1/2 months, and with the exception of some minor software annoyances, has performed very well.

This unit comes with a wired mouse and a remote, which is nice if you are going install this unit out in the open, next to your TV, but useless if you have this unit in a more secure location (such as in a closet, or in another 'hidden' location). My unit is installed 'out of normal view', using a wireless mouse to control the unit (for viewing on my TV).

This particular unit comes WITHOUT a hard drive, which is why the great price. With the prices of hard drives continually dropping, purchasing this unit without the drive was a much more affordable option for me.

Most of this review is based on operating this unit remotely via a PC and internet browser, connected on the same network.

Overall, I give this unit a 'good' rating, but have to deduct one star for some of the software related issues.

Pro's:

*Great unit for the price

*Rich in features, and the ability to customize each channel independently.

*Small size

*Reliability, appears to be stable, no crashes (so far)

*D1 Resolution (although at a reduced frame rate, but again, ok for the price)

*Remote viewing, and the ability to setup other user accounts with customized access (allowed a friend to keep an eye on my place while I was away for a couple of weeks).

*Ability to fully configure unit through a remote PC (much easier than through the supplied mouse and remote control)

*Functional straight out of the box (after installation of hard drive), and connecting camera's.

*Choice of 'Video Out' options, including RCA line out, BNC video out, and VGA output

Cons:

*Software/Firmware appears to have some minor issues (see below)

*Need to install 'Active X' control for remote use with 'Internet Explorer', and if you are running Firefox, you will need to install the IE-TAB add-on, to allow you to run 'Internet Explorer' in a Firefox tab.

Noteworthy issues:

*The firmware version that shipped with my unit, was in 'constant record mode' , as opposed to 'motion detection' as the manual indicated. Firmware upgrade was fast and easy, and functioned as the manual indicated after the upgrade.

*The Admin password is blank by default, therefor it is advisable to set a password prior to enabling this unit for remote access from the internet. If a password is not set, ANYONE can access your unit, and potentially alter the configuration and even lock you out!

*When recording in 'D1' resolution, the frame rate drops to 6 fps, otherwise in CIF resolution, frame rate is 30 fps.

*Software/Firmware, while this unit has many nice features, a few of these features are not as well 'polished' as you might expect, but are usually just minor annoyances. Here are a few (not all) of the undocumented features of this unit:

--During playback (sometimes), if you choose to search for 'alarm' activity on 4 or less camera's (example camera's 2, 4, 6, 8 or just camera 8), the 'quad' screen will appear, showing 4 camera windows, but instead of channels 2, 4, 6, and 8, will show 1,2,3, and 4. While video for channels 1 and 3 will not be shown (will remain dark), but neither will channels 6 and 8. There are a couple of work-arounds for this, but Q-See could have done a better job on this one.

--Backup files are .avi format (previously firmware was .264 format), BUT when recording via remote view, files are in .264 format. While Q-See does provide a 'Mini Player' for the .264 format, why can't they keep the file format consistant for remote backup AND recording, or at least give you the option to choose.

--Occasionally, during playback, when repositioning the time slider (after playback has begun, like when you want to take a second look at something), the playback will freeze, and will display 'Buffering' indefinitely. This can be remedied by clicking back to the 'Live View' screen, then back to the 'Playback' screen again, position the time slider to the correct position, and press play. Just another one of those minor annoyances!

--While using with the Firefox browser, if you forget to switch to an IE Tab, you will have partial functionality, and when going to the 'playback' screen, you will have a 29 day calendar (in my case April with 29 days), and a message indicating 'Loading'. Why not just display a message noting the incompatibility! This drove me nuts until I finally figured out what was wrong!

--The new firmware came with a new feature, the ability to view in a sequenced mode. This feature seems to be available ONLY in 'local mode' (from video output of unit), and not in 'Remote View'. This seems to be the only option that is not available via a remote PC. I assume it is just another oversite in the Q-See software.

*Port 100?? The users guide indicates the need to forward ports 85, 100, and 9000 on your router for remote operation. This unit accepts ports 85 and 9000, but NOT 100! The good part is that port 100 is not needed, at least for viewing on a PC (have not attempted to view on mobile device).

This is a great dvr its easy to work the menus are easy setup was fast the internet viewer work well and the Android app is the best I've seen yet

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Livescribe Pulse Smartpen 4GB Pro-Pack (Black)

This is obviously a nifty product, and I've been impressed with reviews elsewhere. But isn't $210 asking a bit much given that Livescribe just released a next generation "Echo" model that is 4GB and only costs $170.

The least that could be done, it seems to me, is to drop this package below $200.

In taking my match, english, and world history classes: along with taking notes at HOA meetings. It has been the best thing to use. The HOA would have a "hissy" if they knew that they were being recorded along with my taking notes. Also the college instructors will soon find out from their Deans just how bad that they have been delivering speeches and giving inacurate responces to students and leading the students to make incorrect choices on tests. Yeah for the Smartpen.

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The Smartpen is a great way to keep minutes for fraternal organizations. The written record along with the voice recording makes it easy to check and make sure you have kept an accurate account of a meeting.

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I'm a geek, and even I'm amazed by this pen. How does it do it? It not only records the sound in a way that lets you go directly to a particular part of the recording, it copies your handwritten notes to your computer! And when you're listening, you can watch your own hand draw the letters on the screen. It's eery.

I use it when doing mediations, so I can get down the exact wording of the agreement without having to slow down the process.

Four stars cause the software is kind of clunky, but it works well enough to get the value from the pen.

I also love that the little LED window tells you the time expired, so if clients don't come on the hour, I don't have to keep figuring out when to end the session.

It's also a great conversation piece!

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Mach Speed Eclipse-Duo 4 GB Eclipse MP3 Player with USB, MicroSD Slot, Voice Recorder, Shuffle Mode

• MP3 player with digital voice recorder
• Slide out design
• 4GB of internal memory, built-in rechargeable battery
• Drag and drop file transfer
• What's included in the package: Media player, USB cable, and earbuds

The Eclipse Duo is an awesome travel MP3 player. It charges through its USB port, so there isn't another proprietary charger to worry about carrying around and eventually losing. I spent a month in Peru with mine, I fell asleep listening to it each night and only had to charge it once. It also doubles as a normal flash drive, so I kept a pdf of my passport, my password keeper, and some photos safely encrypted on it. The navigation system is a bit goofy and I read that the ear buds that came with it are none too great, but I learned the navigation quickly and I have tons of extra ear buds laying around, so no complaints!

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I needed a simple, cheap MP3 player for the gym, and this one is great! I feel like Apple has conditioned people to expect certain things from an MP3 player that we really don't need, and I think this sort of thinking has fueled some of the negative reviews of this product. Here's my take

-Lightweight: This product is very light, which I think is why some people think it's "cheap feeling." I don't feel like electronics should have a lot of unnecessary metal in them to make them feel substantial, weight really has no bearing on the actual electronics

-User Interface: The navigation through the menus and functions is very straightforward. It's not immediately intuitive like a lot of Apple products, but you should read the tiny, 8-page manual. One quirk is that shuffle mode is under the "Repeat" menu, which isn't that obvious. With any electronic device, within a few times of using it you become an expert, so I don't think this is super important.

-Sound: Excellent, provided that you use decent headphones. The headphones that come with the player are garbage. Use another pair and you'll find that the sound is great. The signal to noise is very good (test this by turning up the volume and pausing, the less static the better). There are a few EQ settings, but I never use them.

In case you couldn't tell, I think most Apple products are overrated and overpriced. Save yourself some money and get a solid product like this one.

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Small & compact does what they say it does size makes it tough to read screen excellent sound using included buds.

I'm satisfied with the product, my need was for something small

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This little thing is awsome. You can take lots of songs with you about 3,000 for mine, you can stor everything from movies to games, to pics on one little device. jeeze? whats the world coming to i dunno but I like it. I have a portable dvd player with a usb port so i use the movies on this instead of dvds. Wow.!!!

I got this for $20 when my headphone died on my 10-year old Rave mp3 player. It worked OK, the built in usb port was convenient. The controls are a little inconvenient if you don't press the button fast enough, it goes back to the main screen, but the screen is small so it has to scroll album/song titles (very slowly) and it was impossible with this system to figure out whether I was selecting "Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. I" or "Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. II"! Part of the problem is that it doesn't list albums or bands in alphabetical order I think it just does it in the order you add them, and if you remove something it puts whatever you add in that slot. Also, when you finish listening to an album, it jumps to another album not by the same band (e.g. in the same folder), but semi-random (it wasn't completely random, it tended to return to the same couple of albums pretty often). The controls for selecting what album to listen to aren't very intuitive (at least for me) I kept finding myself hitting the wrong button and having to start over. Also, the screen was very dim if you try to use it outside in daylight, it's almost impossible to see what you're doing. Despite any "system requirements", I was able to use my old Windows Media Player on my offline computer to load files with no problem (you can also just open the file in your computer and drag music over) this seems pretty common with mp3 players, although they all seem to claim you need "Windows Media Player 10" and an internet connection, etc. I used it at work, and the charge lasts about 8 hrs., so I had to be sure to recharge it every day or it would run out of juice the next day. About 4 months after getting it, I plugged it into my computer to charge it and the computer wouldn't recognize it I couldn't get it to charge again, and from other reviews I read I got the impression that the warranty wasn't worth the hassle for a cheap, not very good, mp3 player. Not recommended.

Sony DCRTRV38 MiniDV 1Megapixel Camcorder with 3.5" LCD

I have been video taping since 1982, so here are my observations after a week with the TRV38.

LOW LIGHT: much better than expected after reading negative reviews on it everywhere.

STILL PICTURE QUALITY: better than expected for a quick and easy shot.

MPEG VIDEO QUALITY: mediocre as expected

DIGITAL ZOOM: worse than expected after reading very positive comments on it.

SOUND QUALITY: better than expected; virtually zero motor noise

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION: excellent as expected; a bit heavier than expected

LCD: excellent as expected; 3.5" is wonderful, and this one is beautiful

LCD TOUCH SCREEN: excellent and a great idea; works beautifully even with a protective plastic sheet on it.

BATTERY LIFE: too brief, as expected

EASE OF USE: complex but well designed as expected; easy if you just want to shoot video without fussing with settings; much for advanced photographer.

ZOOM CONTROL: very sensitive as expected, takes getting used to

PICTURE QUALITY: excellent, but not amazingly better than 3 year-old cheap Sharp hi-8. I was expecting it to be worlds better.

SIZE: smaller than expected which is good; excellent even for big hands like mine.

INPUTS/OUTPUTS: All work great and allow for virtually every

comgination of input and output.

CONTROLS: control for off, VCR, camera is much too small and awkward to use. Others are great, except for zoom sensitivity as noted above.

REMOTE CONTROL: better control than expected.

OWNERS BOOK: well done for the most part, but with omissions and errors; obviously written by non-native speaker.

Reviews do not mention that this is an excellent TV, digital VCR, video editing studio, still camera (no competition to good 2 mp still digital camera), and advanced camcorder. The bottom tape loading is horrible but it is really the only big negative.

Comparing the footage to a friend's 3 chip Sony shows little difference on a TV or LCD monitor. Colors are very true and the tiny speaker sound quality is surprisingly good. This is a well-designed camcorder that does a great job at everything it is supposed to do. The LP setting is a great feature for recording TV shows from the satellite, and movies directly from DVD or VCR. The software is worthless; Sony should have included Pinnacle software, considering the price of the camcorder. I would not hesitate to recommend this camcorder, TV, VCR, digital camera.

The DCR-TRV38 is in the mid-range Sony's 2003 line of consumer camcorders. It is similar to the DCR-TRV33 but has a larger LCD screen, which is a nice plus. The DCR-TRV70 and 80 have higher resolution, but at significantly higher cost. The reviews I've read state that the DCR-TRV38 hits the sweet spot in terms of video quality and price. My impressions are as follows:

PROS:

-Build quality and performance are excellent. The video is very clear and sound is pretty good. Low light resolution is much better than competing camcorders in the same price range.

-Compact size

-The SteadyShot function works exactly as delivered. The motion sensor method that Sony utilizes is superior to the digital method used in competing products (such as the Panasonic GS-70).

-The Carl Zeiss with 10x optical zoon is great.

CONS:

-The main negatives of the DCR-TRV38 really deal with the overall cost of ownership. In addition to purchasing the camcorder, I ended up buying the following:

-A larger battery (the included one is woefully underpowered)

-A protective lens filter to shield that great Carl Zeiss lens

-A charger to quick-charge the larger battery

-A firewire cable to connect the camcorder to my PC

-A camera case (Sony only includes a strap)

-A tripod, which some people might not need

As you can see, this made the camcorder really much more expensive than I initially expected. (Reminds me of buying a car.)

-Having the MiniDV tapes load through the bottom means that you can't keep the camcorder on a tripod and change tapes. Not a major inconvenience.

-As with most camcorders, the still picture function is a joke. You'll get better pictures from a disposable Kodak digital camera.

-You have to use the touch screen on the LCD to navigate through many of the camera's functions. This can get the screen dirty or can actually damage the screen if you are too forceful.

Overall, I think the camcorder is a very good product. Just plan on spending $100-200 extra to make it worthwhile. At least Sony gave a 20% discount coupon for accessories when I received the camcorder. The other camcorders I considered seemed to have one or two areas superior to the DCR-TRV38, but the overall package fell short. For instance, the Panasonic GS-70 has the highly touted 3 CCDs for better color representation, but resolution suffers due to the smaller CCD sizes. (The digital motion stabilization was another negative). The Canon camcorders in general are tidy and inexpensive but seem to suffer from poor low light capabilities. I'm happy with my purchase.

Buy Sony DCRTRV38 MiniDV 1Megapixel Camcorder with 3.5" LCD Now

As most people on the web do, I did a lot of reading, and comparison shopping, before settling on the Sony TRV38. This camera has more features than you will get to use, but I was looking for video quality, ease of use(point and shoot), and price. TRV has all this and more. True to the other reports, you need to buy a larger memory card, and a back-up battery...at least the NP50, or NP70. Once you have everything, you are ready for some neat features, and quality video.

My favorite one is the VCR feature, through which you can rewind the tape, use the LCD touch screen, and view the footage you just shot. Many people talk about low-light footage, and rightfully so, but unless you are shooting in very dim situations, this camcorder does a great job in low light. This is actually one of the reasons I chose the TRV38, over Canon, Panasonic, and JVC.

If you are buying on the web, all the vendors include extra "packages". Be carefull... a $600 camera can wind up costing you $900. I only bought the AC/DC charger, 30mmm UV filter, and a nice bag. The other items you need you can find cheaper elsewhere. Sony batteries are expensive, but there are generic, cheaper batteries that will work just as well

There is a sea of good camcorders out there, but this Sony is at the top of my list.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRTRV38 MiniDV 1Megapixel Camcorder with 3.5" LCD Here

the sony trv38 is one of sony's mid-range miniDV camcorders. it's a solid camcorder but i believe you can do better in this price range.

pros:

very good video quality colors are reproduced accurately.

1 megapixel still capability.

miniDV media is widely supported.

great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.

carl zeiss lens with 10X optical zoom.

steady shot and night shot.

ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.

progressive shutter system.

supports exif 2.2.

the 3.5" LCD screen is great.

very clean design (controls are accessed via the touchscreen lcd).

low motor noise.

intelligent accessory shoe.

allows some degree of manual control.

cons:

no pop-up flash for taking stills and no built in video light but you can get a flash/video combo light for less than a hundred bucks.

you could do better on the still photo department. for example, sony's trv80 and trv70 have 2 megapixel capability but those camcorders are more expensive.

as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.

navigating menus on touch-screen LCD isn't terribly intuitive.

don't expect miracles from 1 megapixel stills.

short battery life with included battery (you'll want a spare battery anyway).

bottom loading cassette can't remove tape while camcorder is on a tripod

not as compact as i would like. dimensions are 3-5/8"H x 2-7/8"W x 6-3/8"D, and it weighs 1 lb 7 oz without tape and battery.

the included 8MB memory stick is unacceptable. be prepared to shell out more money for at least a 32MB or bigger memory stick.

this is a solid camcorder but i would recommend three sonys (trv33 or pc105 or trv70) and the panasonic gs70 over this camcorder.

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This is an amazing camera for it's price. It has a carl zeiss lens which is a must-have if you want your video to end up looking profesional. Personally, i like it even better than the model above this one. This one not only has a 3.5 inch LCD compared to a 2.5 inch LCD on the more expensive model, but it also has a better feel. In the model above this one, the only thing "better" is it's smaller size. But i don't like that smaller size. It makes it feel too delicate. I may be only 17, but i've been into videography for quite awhile, and i would say, this is my favorite camera, for it's price. It's obviously not as good as say... the VX 2000 which... i think costs something over 2000. But for my purposes, and the majority of the public's, i'm sure it's the best choice.

Griffin iFM (Dock Connector) / FM Radio and Wired Remote Control for iPod

• Digital auto station scan with wraparound
• Band-Switch function to switch between US, European and Japanese FM bands
• Controls pause, play, fast forward, rewind, next song, previous song, volume
• 6 Station presets per band
• Compatibility: iPod nano (1G and 2G), iPod mini, 3G iPod, 4G iPod with click wheel, iPod Color, iPod Video

Griffin iFM vs. Apple Radio Remote

iFM Pros:

++ arrangement of buttons makes operation by touch a cinch

+ (cosmetic) available in black (only)

iFM Cons:

Lowest volume setting is still a little too loud for certain circumstances/environments

clip is somewhat flimsy

Radio Remote Pros:

++ iPod integration is great

+ volume can be adjusted in much finer detail compared to iFM (64 vs. 16 levels)

+ clip appears more sturdy and usable

+ includes a set of Apple earbuds which a shorter cord

Radio Remote Cons:

arrangement of buttons makes operation by touch not as convenient as iFM

(cosmetic) available in white (only)

Both seem about equal as far as FM radio performance is concerned.

While the Apple Radio Remote seems like the better of the two, I use the iFM (with the shorter Apple earbuds) when skiing because the button layout is much easier to use on the slopes while wearing gloves.

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I love my iPod, and what's more I love iTunes (especially since I have gotten a broadband connection.) One of the things I like doing in my apartment on Saturday mornings is listening to my music, but often, I alternate this with public radio from my iTunes (by way of a streamed URL feed.)

So, when I go out, I wander around town with my iPod, but I chose to get rid of my other portable FM radio a while ago when it broke, and haven't replaced it since.

Until now. I picked up the iFM by Griffin Technologies to test and review for as part of the local Apple User Group, and I was immediately taken with the device.

This is a great iPod accessory. To use it, you need any iPod with a dock connector (such as the mini, the nano, the video or the older generation iPod with a dock connector.) I use the device with my mini iPod.

The connector snaps into place and a cable connects you from iPod to the iFM remote. Then instead of connecting your earbuds (or other earphones) to the top of your iPod in the usual place, plug into the remotes connector. The audio quality is indistinguishable. And with a flip of a button, you can chose between the iPod's selection and whatever's on you local FM radio.

And I found the reception to be pretty good (better than compared to the radio in my car anyway.) I suspect this is due to the remotes cable connection between the iPod and itself, acting as an antenna.

However, for me, this cable was the only detractor of the iFM. And I believe this is just because it was hard for me to get used to having it around (I almost zipped the cord into my jacket a couple of times while using it walking around town.)

Otherwise, I liked the variety (and freedom) of being able to chose to listen to either my music on the iPod and that found on local FM.

The iFM has another advertised feature that I've yet to test -the remote has a microphone built-in. Unfortunately, my iPod is a mini, and it doesn't have the recording capability of the current models of the nano and the video iPods.

However, I found this a non-issue; since I'm not recording with my iPod, I don't miss the feature.

Read Best Reviews of Griffin iFM (Dock Connector) / FM Radio and Wired Remote Control for iPod Here

Functionally, the iFM is great. I like to use it for workouts at the gym to watch FM transmitted TV's. However, the construction is extremely cheap. I bought two of them and both fell apart. One fell apart the second time I used it. The construction is so cheap that I couldn't put it back together because the controls don't line up. I wish there was an alternative but I can't find one. I like being able to switch between iPod tunes and FM, but will have to carry two devices from now on.

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I received the iFM 2 months ago, and while the tuner is excellent -regularly pulling in stations I couldn't always get with other portable radiosthe build quality has left something to be desired.

First of all, the belt clip is made of a cheap plastic and snapped off easily when the cord snagged on something as I walked along. It didn't pull that hard, but it was enough. A metal part in place of the plastic one would have easily withstood the strain without complaint, and if not, could have been bent back into place. It wouldn't have snapped.

Second, I accidentally dropped it from waist height, and the whole unit fell apart. The parts snap together during assembly at the factory, so I was able to snap the housing back together, fortunately. However, it was disconcerting that it should be so prone to break or fall apart from these relatively light knocks or bumps. I emailed Griffin's customer service center, and unfortunately, they do not have replacement belt clips. *Sigh*

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Pros:

Good FM reception

good remote functionality

value for money

Cons:

build qaulity seems to be fragile, it still intact for me.

Eqaulizer button is too small to be usable.

both ipod dock connector and head phone jack come from the bottom, it would have been better if headphone jack comes out of the top

Magnavox ZC320MW8B Progressive Scan DVD±RW Recorder w/Line-in Recording (Manufacturer Refurbished)

• Magnavox ZC320MW8B 1080p Upscaling DVD Recorder General Features: Sleek black color Region 1
• Progressive Scan Video Out 5 Speeds for Up to 6 hours recording
• Edit Function (Scene Delete, Title Delete, Adding Chapter etc.) Closed Caption Data Writing
• Multi-Angle, Skip, Pause and Resume Play 99 Program Play, Random Play (CD)

When I purchased this recorder at a local retail store, I was told I couldn't record TV programs because it had no tuner and since I don't have cable TV. Since, I bought it to record my Sony Handicam videos to DVD, plus record from my computer,it was no big deal. However, in theory, I felt that a digital converter box was a tuner, so I connected a converter box, as an "external tuner", and voila, it worked! I'm able to record all the digital TV stations in my area, both timed and instant recording. I called the store and informed the salesperson of this information, in case any other customers questioned this ability. So far it works fine.

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Great product... I have recorded 2 dvd's from an old S-VHS camcorder. S-Video in works great. Instructions are a bit lacking and the user interface is really minimal and kinda hard to figure out. I still give this device 5 stars because of what you get for the price. If you need to get any old videos onto DVD, this thing will do the job.

***Update*** I have finished getting my videos onto DVD so I am no longer using the recorder... So, I won't be able to answer your questions as I have been able to in the past.

Read Best Reviews of Magnavox ZC320MW8B Progressive Scan DVD±RW Recorder w/Line-in Recording (Manufacturer Refurbished) Here

had some worries about refurbished but seems to be working fine and doing everything it should . picture quailty is great . did have a problem the first day ,unit froze up and could do nothing with it, called tech support and they said unplug it for 1 hour ,that did the trick and no trouble after that .you might try that before calling tech support .i should have gotten one of these a long time ago . i am 73 and i figured out everything i needed to do what i do . great machine , Pete

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this item came very fast,in very good like new condition, player recorder works exellent,there is no visible counter, the set up counter is viewed on tv, but the price for this is very cheap and recorder records exellent and plays dvd back very good if you need a good low cost player recorder buy this one from this dealer.

I do the work of Video transfer professionally. The machine is rock solid, no discs have come back for having errors, thousands have been made. I never do reviews, this is my first. I wanted to tell everyone this machine is great!